Section 10. Definitions

As used in this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

"Accredited sponsor" means an organization whose entire continuing legal education program has been accredited by the board, pursuant to 15VAC5-70-50.

"Active member," as defined by Paragraph 3(a) of Section IV, Part Six, Rules of Virginia Supreme Court, means a person who is admitted to practice law in the courts of this Commonwealth and who is engaged in the practice of law, either full time or part time, salaried or nonsalaried.

"Approved course" means a course expressly approved by the board for the relevant reporting period or a course offered by an accredited sponsor during the reporting period for which the sponsor is accredited.

"Board" means the Virginia State Bar Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Board established by Paragraph B of the Rule.

"Course" or "program" means a discrete continuing legal education offering, regardless of length or daily schedule.

"Course or program offered in-house" means one sponsored by a single private law firm, a single corporate law department or a single federal, state, or local governmental agency or military branch for lawyers who are members or employees of the firm, department, agency, or branch.

"Credit hours," "hours," "credits," or "hours credit" means the units used for measuring completion of mandatory continuing legal education as required by the Rule.

"Ethics credits" mean credit hours which apply toward mandatory continuing legal education in the area of legal ethics or professionalism as required by the Rule.

"Faculty member" means a person qualified by practical or academic experiences to teach the subject he covers.

"Limited intellectual property admission member" means an attorney admitted pursuant to § 54.1-3901 of the Code of Virginia for the practice of patent, trademark, copyright, and unfair competition causes only.

"Member" as defined by Paragraph 2 of Section IV, Part Six, Rules of the Virginia Supreme Court, means all attorneys at law in this Commonwealth.

"Newly-admitted member" means a person first admitted to practice during the current reporting period.

"Panel(s)" means a committee or committees organized by the board for the purpose of expeditiously considering and deciding matters arising under the Rule and this chapter.

"Program sponsor" or "sponsor" means any person or entity presenting or offering to present one or more continuing legal education programs.

"Qualified ethics" or "professionalism component" means a clearly identified segment of a course or program which meets the requirements of 15VAC5-70-30 D and which segment is devoted to one or more topics embraced in recognized formulations of rules of professional conduct or codes of professional responsibility applicable to attorneys. Such a segment must be appropriately described or entitled in course materials and must have a defined duration in the course or program schedule.

"Reporting period" means a period of one year beginning on July 1 of one year and ending on June 30 of the next year.

"Rule" means the provisions of the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Rule established by Paragraph 17 of Section IV, Part Six, Rules of Virginia Supreme Court.

"Specially approved course or program" means a course which does not meet the standards of 15VAC5-70-30 B and C but which, because of its significant value to the practice of a member who has sought approval, has been approved by the board for such member. As to such member, the term "approved course" includes a specially approved course or program.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR167-01-601 § 1, eff. July 1, 1991; amended, Volume 11, Issue 11, eff. July 7, 1993.

Statutory Authority

§ 54.1-3910; Part 6, §IV, Paragraph 17 of Rules of Virginia Supreme Court.